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Council rejects wind farm plans
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Plans to build 12 wind turbines have been thrown out by Conwy council’s planning committee.
Critics claimed the turbines proposed near Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr would have ruined views and impacted on wildlife and tourism.
But the council also received 47 letters from local residents backing the proposals.
The 100m (328ft) turbines at Mwdwl Eithin would each have generated up to 2.5 megawatts.
Nuon, the Dutch firm behind the plans, altered their application after objections were raised in September.
Originally 13 turbines were planned for the Nant Bach wind turbine power station but Nuon had agreed to remove one from its plans altogether and alter the location of another to a less sensitive heath land habitat.
Objections
It also agreed to create a footpath around the station to replace one of those affected by the proposed scheme and said it would come up with a habitat management plan.
However, on Wednesday council officers advised the committee to refuse planning permission because only some of the reservations highlighted in September had been addressed in their alterations.
A number of organisations and individuals objected to the scheme including community councils, the Ramblers Association, the British Horse Society and the All Wales Energy Group.
Their objections included doubts over the value, reliability and efficiency of energy produced by wind turbines; concerns over how it might affect views in the area and a possible negative impact on local businesses and property value.
One campaigner, David Insall, claimed Mwdwl Eithin was foraging ground for the red kite bird of prey, and also that construction of the turbines would threaten a nearby badger set.
But Barbara Owsianka, senior countryside officer said there was no evidence that the potential nesting grounds of red kites would be disturbed by the wind turbines.
Investment
In a letter to the council she added that if the application were refused on the grounds that red kites were seen foraging in the area “then much wind turbine development in Wales would have to be refused”.
Ms Owsianka did however recommend that the plans be refused on the grounds that it would have an adverse ecological impact on the area.
Letters from local residents backing the proposals argued that the power station would produce clean, renewable energy and result in investment in the local economy.
Nuon were asked for their comments but have yet to reply.
16 November 2007
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